Scientists Explain why Rudolph has such a Shiny Nose
For generations children have been fascinated with Santa's special reindeer, especially the beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
While adored, no one has ever known exactly why Rudolph has such a bright nose. However, researchers in Norway and the Netherlands set out to find out why from a scientific perspective why a reindeer's nose may glow.
The team of researchers have written a paper about their findings entitled, "Microcirculatory investigations of nasal mucosa in reindeer Rangifer tarandus (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Cervidae): Rudolph's nose was overheated."
According toThe Local, in order to conclude why Rudolph has a red nose, the team of researchers used a hand-held microscope to examine a variety of nasal linings, including, five healthy humans, two reindeer and an individual with a nasal growth, of the non-cancerous type. The scientists used infrared technology to examine participants.
Described as a "tongue-in-cheek" investigation, the scientists found in their experiment that reindeer noses contain a higher number of blood vessels than humans and that the massive amount of exercise they do once a year while flying at rapid speeds also has an impact.
Santa's reindeer are estimated to deliver to 100 million homes and travel about 650 miles (1,000 kilometers) per second, which is no small feat.
"Rudolph's nose is red because it is richly supplied with red blood cells, comprises a highly dense microcirculation, and is anatomically and physiologically adapted for reindeer to carry out their flying duties for Santa Claus," the researchers stated in their report which was published in the British Medical Journal this month for its Christmas edition.
According toMashable, the scientists compared Rudolph's red nose to a car's cooling mechanism in its radiator.
"The microcirculation of the nasal mucosa in reindeer is richly vascularised and 25 percent denser than that in humans. These factors explain why the nose of Rudolph, the lead flying reindeer employed by Santa Claus to pull his sleigh, is red and well adapted to carrying out his duties in extreme temperatures," wrote the researchersin the report.
The scientists did reportedly admit this study is not conclusive and that Rudolph may have had a cold, a hangover or an infection. (Additionally, one can't help but wonder based on testing results, why aren't the other eight reindeer sporting shiny red snouts?)
"Rudolph" wasrecently reportedto be one of the top best-selling secular Christmas songs of all time, only second to "White Christmas". "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" was originally written in the 1930s by a man named Bob May as a poem. It was later set to music after WWII.
